"Physical Exam"

Why is it that when a doctor pulls on a latex glove—and stretches it practically up to his elbow—he’s smiling at the same time? The cover of James McManus’s new book, Physical, An American Checkup, caught my attention as the photo shows a person’s hand (presumably a doctor’s) slipping into a latex glove. Of course, the glove is being stretched to its extreme.

The author readily admits that he’s been avoiding a physical for years. McManus, a New York Times poker columnist, has lived a sedentary life in pool halls and gambling casinos. Liquor and tobacco and too many complimentary hors d’oeuvres have brought him to a reckoning of his mortality. A family history of heart attacks and burials has made the prospect of an early demise a worrisome specter.

An “executive” physical—the best that money can buy--at the Mayo Clinic is a necessity. In his book, McManus uproariously assesses the manner and personalities of the physicians, technicians, and dominatrix physical therapists he meets during his three-day, head to toe, inside-and-out examination. McManus uses this lighthearted account of his physical to launch serious discussion of the current state of health care in the United States.

As with most of his boomer generation who assume immortality, McManus is shaken by the revelation that the party is winding down and he’s got to clean up his act if he wishes to continue his sojourn among the living. He confides that he wants to see his two youngest daughters graduate from college. He realizes that he must make some serious sacrifices but the reader will need to wait for the next book—if the party’s not over before then—to learn if he succeeds.

Portions of Physical, an American Checkup have appeared in Esquire Magazine and have been anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The Best American Magazine Writing, and The Best American Political Writing.

Additional new books at the Library on the topic of “longevity” include, Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging, by Dr. Edward T. Creagan; Defyng Age: How to Think, Act and Stay Young, by Dr. Miriam Stoppard; Living to 100: Lessons in Living to Your Maximum Potential At Any Age by Dr. Thomas T. Perls; 50 Simple Ways to Live a Longer Life by Suzanne Boham; Life Extension Revolution, the New Science of Growing Older Without Aging by Dr. Philip Lee Miller; and You—The Owner’s Manual by Michael Roizen

Recent donations to the Library Foundation include those from Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hingst and Harold Oppliger in memory of Florence Zwiener and from Mary Norton and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trautwein in memory of Lydia Kolmeier. A memorial was given in honor of Art Gabriel by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Welker. Connie Brown was remembered by a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Luchsinger. Robert Murphy was honored with a memorial from Mr. and Mrs. John Ellefson and Ruby Behlen honored Marie Kuper with a memorial donation.